Storm Warning Issued for Lake Superior and Western Upper Michigan Coastal Waters

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Marquette, MI, has issued a Storm Warning (SRW) for portions of Lake Superior and adjacent coastal waters. This alert follows an initial Gale Warning and indicates a significant escalation in hazardous maritime conditions.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Saxon Harbor, WI to Black River, MI
• Black River to Ontonagon, MI
• Ontonagon to the Upper Entrance of the Portage Canal, MI
• Lake Superior from Saxon Harbor, WI to the Upper Entrance of the Portage Canal, MI (5NM offshore to the US/Canadian border)
• Isle Royale National Park

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate in two phases:

Gale Warning Phase:

• Winds: Northeast winds 30 to 40 knots with gusts up to 45 knots.
• Waves: 13 to 18 feet.

Storm Warning Phase:

• Winds: North winds 35 to 45 knots with gusts up to 55 knots.
• Waves: 17 to 22 feet.
• Visibility: Reduced visibility is expected due to severe conditions.

Timeline

• Gale Warning: Effective from 8:00 AM EDT (7:00 AM CDT) to 8:00 PM EDT (7:00 PM CDT) on Sunday, March 15.
• Storm Warning: Effective from 8:00 PM EDT (7:00 PM CDT) Sunday, March 15, until 2:00 PM EDT (1:00 PM CDT) Monday, March 16.

What You Should Do

Mariners are urged to take immediate safety precautions. The National Weather Service advises that mariners should remain in port, alter course to avoid the storm, and/or secure their vessels for severe conditions. Storm force winds and hazardous waves are capable of capsizing or damaging vessels.